Officially, I start my Ph.D. in two weeks. I am waiting for my HDR orientation pack to arrive so I can start getting my head around what needs to happen and when.
As a pre-emptive strike, I met with my supervisors earlier this week to catch up and so I could update them. The discussion mainly focused on the Summer Project I am working on, which I hope to write up for publication. As we finished, there was mention of writing the different ‘Chapters’ of Research: one of which is ‘Methods’ or ‘Methodology’. Eck!! To be quite honest, Research Methods is an area in which I do not have a lot of experience or a solid understanding. Although it comes later down the track, I left feeling like I want to get a head start on this whole palaver and get a better understanding about all the big theories and terms related to Research Methodology. Even if it just to better understand some of the research I will be reading!
I get the differences between the two major Research Paradigms of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Models– but I am sure I am not alone in not being able to fully distinguish between Positivist and Empiricists (Quantitative) or the Postpositivist and the Constructivists (Qualitative)!! Equally, I have yet to fully appreciate if I am taking an Ontological, Epistemological or Axiological Perspective – at the moment they are just fancy academic words that wankers use to impress blind dates at a dinner party!
So before I allow myself to sound like a wanker or be unduly concerned (overwhelmed??) by such future considerations as Methods, Domains, Perspectives or Methodologies –a very helpful research project resource presented itself to me today. This resource provides comprehensive introductory content from SAGE Research Methods, that covers all the research project basics – and in these video (as well as other sources) – i found exactly what I need to get started! Hooray for Serendipity – thanks Universe for providing exactly what is needed with such impeccable timing!
Topics covered are: Methods Concepts, Designing Research Projects, Understanding particular Methods or Identifying a new Method, Conducting Research and Writing up Findings. SAGE Research Methods also provides content from over 720 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks and journal articles – and best of all – it has 57 commissioned Research Methods Videos – which are a great place for any person who is interested in getting a general overview of what the hell it all means. I may yet be able to engage an academic wanker in some kind of meaningful dinner conversation! Hooray for academic youtube!
Although it is far too early yet to decide exactly what method I will be using in my Ph.D. – it is empowering to watch these and feel more informed and confident to start talking and thinking about it.
Below is a selection I think I will start with:
- Choosing Which Method to Use (2015)
How do we choose which method to use? Is it OK to have a pragmatic approach to methods? Pat speaks about the practicalities of mixed methods, some of the criticisms and her own “magpie” approach - An Introduction to Survey Research Methods (2015)
What is the survey method? Patrick discusses the survey method, including its history and development. He gives tips on utilising existing data and where to source interesting data for this purpose - Mixed Methods Research (2015)
What are Mixed Methods? How should we define mixed methods? Pat speaks about defining mixed methods and her own interest in mixed methods approaches - What do you mean by the term “Ethnography”? (2009)
Sarah Delamont gives her definition of the term ‘Ethnography’ and puts forward her arguments for the benefits of an Ethnographic Study over other Qualitative Research methods.
- Learning Research Methods (2016)
Victoria Edwards is a student at Cardiff University. Taking opportunities to engage in real research helped her to understand research methods and put dry, abstract methodological terms into a real world context - Introduction to Social Media for Researchers (2016)
Increasingly academic researchers are encouraged to be active in social media. Amy and Cheryl discuss the possibilities and benefits of this participation in the online world. How can social media be used for data gathering, data promotion and impact?